Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu-Transfer to Hotel.
If you trek through Index Adventure, our representative will welcome you at the Tribhuvan International Airport. He/ she will greet you and drive you to your hotel for overnight stay.
You will hold a brief meeting regarding your trip to the Upper Dolpo. Later in the evening, you can go for a short walk around the alleys of Thamel and Ason.
Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (1 hour).
You will head towards the domestic airport after having your breakfast in the morning. Nepalgunj sits in the western Terai region of Nepal in Nepal-Tibet border.
It will take you around one hour to reach Nepalgunj from Kathmandu. On reaching Nepalgunj, you will transfer to your hotel room. Later in the evening, you will have some time to explore the town and taste the local street food in the city.
You can also spend your time shopping in the local market of Nepalgunj, buying trekking gear if you want to.
Overnight at a hotel in Nepalgunj.
Day 3: Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal and Trek to Dunai.
Altitude: 2,896 meters
Flight Duration: 45 minutes
Trek Duration: 2-3 hours
You will fly to Juphal from Nepalgunj early in the morning today. You will have breathtaking views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range as you fly over the amazing landscape.
Juphal airport lies in Dolpo region. It is the only airport in the region that connects Dolpo people to the other parts of the country.
On reaching Juphal, you will take a short hike towards Dunai. Dunai is a small town and district headquarter of Dolpo. It sits 2,000 meters at the bank of Thuli Bheri river.
Overnight at a teahouse in Dunai.
Day 4: Trek from Dunai to Ankhe.
Altitude: 2,896 meters
Trekking Duration: 5-6 hours
From Dunai, you will turn to the westward direction and cross a suspension bridge. You will follow the route to a new hospital.
From the junction of Thuli Bheri and Suti Gad river, you will turn towards the north and follow the trail to Suli Gad. The trail is quite smooth with few uphills and downhills climb.
You will walk along the ridge at the height of 2499 meters that offers you with the majestic view of Kagmara Peak. You will walk towards Dhera via walnut groves.
Dhera is a winter settlement where the villagers keep livestock such as cows and goats. From here, you will take an ascent towards Rahagaon. It is a Thukari village at the height of 2,900 meters.
You will walk towards the canyon and pass through dense forest. After crossing a large stream, you will finally reach Anke.
Overnight at a tented camp in Ankhe.
Day 5: Trek from Ankhe to Sulighat.
Altitude: 3,104 meters
Trekking Duration: 5-6 hours
Today, you will take several uphill and downhill trail throughout the trek. You will walk along the bank of the river and climb uphill through a dense forest.
During your journey, you can find several water streams that will add to the pleasantness your trek. You will walk through a grassy slope that sits high above the river after you cross the forest.
You will take a downhill walk towards the stone staircase via the lush forest. You will walk along the riverbed and cross a bridge which will lead you to Sulighat.
Overnight at a tented camp in Sulighat.
Day 6: Trek from Sulighat to Phoksundo Lake.
Altitude: 3,611 meters
Trekking Duration: 4-5 hours
From Sulighat, you will continue walking towards the confluence of Phoksundo lake and Pungmo river. You will walk alongside the west bank of Pungmo Khola after crossing a bridge.
From here, the route will take you to Phalam Village through Cedar forest. You will ascend up to a ridge that sits at the height of 3350 meters.
From the top of the ridge, you will have a distant view of the beautiful turquoise blue lake of Phoksundo along with the highest waterfall in Nepal.
The trail will then descend towards the birch forest towards the upper reaches of the Phoksundo Khola. You will walk through the chortens and Mani walls towards the Ringmo Village.
Ringmo is a Tibetan Buddhist settlement which sits next to the Phoksundo Lake. You will walk along the shore of Phoksundo lake and set up the campsite.
Overnight at a tented camp in Phoksundo lake.
Day 7: Rest Day at Phoksundo Lake.
Today is the first day of acclimatization during your Upper Dolpo Trek. For the purpose of acclimatization, you will go for a short hike towards the village of Ringmo.
You will visit the Buddhist monastery in the Ringmo village. You will also get to explore the local culture and tradition of the village.
Exploring Tshowa monastery will give you a chance to learn about the art, Artcraft, and culture of the Tibetan Buddhists.
You will explore the spectacular Phoksundo lake. Phoksundo is a culturally significant lake. Many people have a sacred belief towards the lake.
Overnight at a tented camp in Phoksundo lake.
Day 8: Trek from Phoksundo Lake to Phoksundo Khola.
Altitude: 3,507 meters
Trekking Duration: 5-6 hours
The final destination for today is Phoksundo Khola. You walk ahead along the western edge of breathtaking Phoksundo lake. The trail is quite unsteady and you can feel the remoteness of the Upper Dolpo region.
As you walk towards the western edge of the lake, you will come across a lush meadow that will lead you to the floodplain of Phoksundo Khola.
On reaching the Phoksundo Khola, you will set your camp in the bank of the river.
Overnight at a tented camp in Phoksundo Khola.
Day 9: Trek to Phoksundo Bhanjyang.
Altitude: 4,402 meters
Trekking Duration: 6-7 hours
Today you will cross several streams along the way to Phoksundo Bhajyang. You will walk through the glacier valley with the stunning views of Chammlang Peak.
The amazing landscapes of the Upper Dolpo region will fascinate you as you walk towards the Phoksundo Bhanjyang. The path becomes narrower and steeper as you walk towards the vertical cliffs.
You will cross a wooden bridge at the confluence of Phoksundo Khola and mountain stream. From here, you will follow the northeast direction.
You will ascend towards a sheep meadow which will lead you steep ravine. You will then have to take a hard uphill climb which will take you to another valley.
Kang La Pass looks beautiful from the top of the valley. A few walks from the valley will take you to Phoksundo Bhanjyang. You will set your camp near the Peter Matthiessen christened ‘Snowfields Camp.
Overnight in a tented camp at Phoksundo Bhanjyang.
Day 10: Trek to Shey Gompa (4,500m) via Kang-La pass (5,360m).
Altitude: 4,500 meters
Trekking Duration: 6-7 hours
The trail today might be physically demanding especially when you walk on the loose slate screed. After walking for about 3 hours, you will each at the top of Kang La Pass. The pass sits at the height of 5360 meters from where the views look incredible.
After exploring the Kang La pass you will descend towards the valley floor. You will walk alongside the bank of the river for about 45 minutes.
You will pass through meadows, yak grazing fields, and ancient Mani Walls. You will see a Red Chorten that marks the entrance to Shey. Crossing a wooden bridge will lead you to Shey Gompa.
Overnight in a tented camp at Shey Gompa.
Day 11: Rest day at Shey Gompa Explore the Crystal Monastery.
Today is the second day for acclimatization. You will spend the day exploring the Shey village and Shey Gompa.
Day 12: Trek from Shey Gompa to Namduna Gaun via Saldang La (5,200 m)
Altitude: 4,800 meters
Trekking Duration: 6-7 hours
After exploring the Shey Gompa, you will head towards Namduna Gaun today. You will start by taking a pleasant walk towards the juniper forest.
You will descend towards a stony canyon from where the zigzag paths begin. From here, you will take an uphill climb towards the eroded soil until you reach the top of Saldang La.
The top of Saldang La Pass offers some of the best views of yak pastures and the unique landscape and vegetation of the Dolpo region. After exploring the beautiful views from the top of the pass, you will now descend towards Namduna Gaun.
You will pass through the grazing fields of yaks and sheep towards the north. On reaching Namduna Gaun, you will visit the famous monastery of the village, Namduna monastery.
Amduna monastery is a red stone monastery that sits in the backdrop of a cliff on the north wall of a George. The monastery holds significant among Tibetan Buddhists.
Overnight in Namduna Gaun.
Day 13: Trek from Namduna to Saldang.
Altitude: 3,620 meters
Trekking Duration: 4-5 hours
From the Namduna Gaon, you will take an uphill climb towards a steep slope. The route involves walking on a dusty and barren trail towards the Salang village.
After 2-3 hours of difficult climb, you will have the first view of Saldang village. The village sits on a plateau which is high above the Namga Khola stream.
Saldang is one of the biggest settlements in the inner Dolpo region. It is a prosperous village that acts as a trade route between Upper Dolpo and Tibet.
Overnight in Saldang.
Day 14: Trek from Saldang to Yangze Gompa.
Altitude: 4,960 meters
Trekking Duration: 4-5 hours
From Saldang, you will trek towards the northern direction today. You will walk in a barren terrain along the bank of Nagon Khola.
With few uphill and downhill turns, the rest of the path is quite gradual. Along the way, you will pass through Marang and Ki villages.
On walking further, you will have to cross a tributary of Panzang river. The trail will then take you towards the eastward direction. On crossing a river, you will finally reach Yangze Gompa.
Yangze Gompa is an ancient Bon Po monastery that holds significance among Tibetan Buddhist of the Upper Dolpo region.
Day 15: Trek from Yangze to Sibu.
Altitude: 4,560 meters
Trekking Duration: 6-7 hours
You will have to option to reach Sibu. So, you will follow the easier and simple route towards Sibu. choosing the way back to Saldang village will definitely save your precious time.
So, you will head back to Saldang village. As you reach Saldang, you will walk alongside the river bank.
You will through terraced fields, chortens, stupas, Mani Stone walls, and Chaiba monastery. From here, you will walk towards the Namdo village.
Namdo is a prosperous village that consists of about sixty houses and 400 inhabitants. You will also visit the Namdo monastery that sits in the bank of a river.
You will continue walking further alongside the bank of the river for about two hours to reach the small village of Sibu.
Day 16: Trek from Sibu to Jeng-la Phedi.
Altitude: 4,900 meters
Trekking Duration: 5-6 hours
You will leave Sibu today. You will start walking along the bank of Nam Khong Khola for a while. Later, you will walk towards the Tibetan border after passing the caravan.
The route will then take you towards the eastward direction at the confluence of two tiny streams. You will cross the stream and reach to a side valley.
The trail becomes a bit steeper from here. You will take an uphill climb towards the grazing area below Jeng La Pass. The pass is an amazing meadow where you will set up your camp.
Overnight in a tented camp at Jeng La Phedi.
Day 17: Trek Jeng-la to Tokyu Gaon via Jeng la
Altitude: 4,209 meters
Trekking Duration: 5-6 hours
You will start your trek early in the morning today. After walking for about two hours from the Jeng La Phedi, you will reach the top of Jeng La pass. Reaching the top will reward you with the remarkable view of the north face of Dhaulagiri massif.
From here, you will take a downhill rough trail towards the Tarap valley. Tarap is a beautiful valley with the view of high mountains and vast plains.
You will then ascend towards the green valley of Tarap Chu that expands 20 kilometers along the Tarap Chu river.
After a short walk, you will reach the monastery of Tokyu. You set your camp close to the monastery for overnight stay.
Day 18: Trek from Tokyu Gaun to Dho Tarap.
Altitude: 4,040 meters
Trekking Duration: 4-5 hours
The trail today involves downhill walk on a plain valley. The journey today becomes quite easier than the usual trek.
You will walk through a grassy land along the river bank. So, the trail is completely different than the other parts of the inner Dolpo.
After walking for some time, you will finally reach a village of Dho Tarap. You can see the majority of Magar inhabitants in the village. Some few Tibetans also live in the Dho Tarap village.
Day 19: Rest Day at Dho Tarap and Exploration
Today is the third day of acclimatization. On this day, you will spend your time by strolling around the village of Dho Tarap.
An irregular stone wall surrounds the village. Exploring the village will give you a chance to interact with the local people. You will also get to know about the culture and lifestyles of the people living in the village.
The local settlements are mostly inhabited by Magars, Tibetans, Bonpo, and Buddhists. You will explore the harvesting fields and Buddhist Gompa in the village. The Gompa is closest to your campsite. You will also visit the Bon Po gompa.
Day 20: Trek from Dho Tarap to Tarap Khola (Kama Kharka).
Altitude: 3,800 meters
Trekking Duration: 6-7 hours
Today you will leave Dho Tarap and head towards Tarap Khola. You will trek downhill towards a wide valley which eventually becomes narrower into a George.
You will walk along the forest of juniper and wild bushes which sits above the treeline. You will get to witness many yaks, blue sheep, marmots, goats, etc along the way to Tarap Khola.
By the afternoon, you will reach the confluence of Tarap Chu and Lang Khola. The stream joins with Tarap Khola from further east. On walking further, you will reach to a meadow, Kamakharka where you will set up your camp.
Overnight at a tented camp in Tarap Khola.
Day 21: Trek from Tarap Khola to Khanigaon.
Altitude: 3,150 meters
Trekking Duration: 3-4 hours
From Tarap Khola, you will head down towards the george of the river. You will pass through many local settlements and meet local people along the way.
You will have an exciting trip today. The trail becomes narrower as you walk towards a deep George. You will walk along with the stone slabs that acts as a bridge.
In some of the places, the bridge may be damaged due to which you will have to cross the icy torrent by yourself. Finally, on walking further, you will reach to the settlement of Khanigaon. You will set your camp in Khanigaon beside the Tarap river
Day 22: Trek from Khanigaun to Tarakot.
Altitude: 2,537 meters
Trekking duration: 4-5 hours
You will leave Khanigaun and head towards the village of Lambert today. The trail descends towards another river.
The route involves walking along the bank of the river which will lead you towards a lush forest. After walking for some time, you will reach Tarakot.
You will visit the Sandul Gompa at Tarakot. It is 8 kilometers away from the village and sits at the confluence of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu.
You will set your camp 15 kilometers below Tarakot beside the Tarap Chu river.
Day 23: Trek from Tarakot to Dunai.
Altitude: 2,140 meter
Trekking Duration: 5-6 hours
From Tarakot, you will walk alongside the Bheri river. You will cross a bridge and reach a village called Lawan village.
You will continue walking alongside the Bheri river and ascend towards Byas Gadi. From here the route will take you towards the westward direction. The trail is comparatively easy from here.
On crossing the river, you will reach to Lochakhola Gaon. From here, you will ascend towards Dunai for night stay.
Day 24: Trek from Dunai to Jhuphal.
Altitude: 2,404 meters
Trekking Duration: 3-4 hours
Today is the last day of your trekking journey. You will along the riverbed of the Bheri river through beautiful landscapes of the region. You will pass through many villages such as Dhupichaur and Rugged.
You will continue walking towards Kalagaonda village which will take you to Motipur village. From here, you will walk towards Jhuphal.
Overnight in Jhuphal
Day 25: Fly from Juphal to Nepalgunj to Kathmandu.
Your incredible trip to Upper Dolpo Trek ends here. In the morning you will take a flight from Jhupal to Nepalgunj. On reaching the airport at Nepalgunj, you will take another flight to Kathmandu.
It will take you around 30-45 minutes to reach Kathmandu airport from Nepaljung. You will have ariel views of the beautiful landscapes, mountains, hills, etc as you fly to Kathmandu.